U.S. patent application number 10/429738 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for motor vehicle with a system for ventilation of a compartment that is able to house a domestic animal.
This patent application is currently assigned to C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI. Invention is credited to Grasso, Valentina, Innocenti, Gianfranco, Perlo, Piero.
Application Number | 20030211822 10/429738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27639047 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030211822 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Perlo, Piero ; et
al. |
November 13, 2003 |
Motor vehicle with a system for ventilation of a compartment that
is able to house a domestic animal
Abstract
A motor vehicle comprises a vehicle body, inside which there are
defined a passenger compartment, designed to house one or more
persons, and a rear loading compartment, which is able to house at
least one domestic animal. In the vehicle body there are defined at
least one inlet passage for conveyance of air from outside the
motor vehicle to the rear compartment and at least one outlet
passage for expulsion of air from the rear compartment to outside
the motor vehicle, for the purposes of: creating a separation of
the aerodynamic flows between the passenger compartment and the
rear compartment, where the animal is housed; improving the
conditions of respiration and of general well-being of the animal;
and aiding the elimination of unpleasant smells from the rear
compartment for housing of the animal, and improving as a whole the
quality of the air inside the passenger compartment.
Inventors: |
Perlo, Piero; (US) ;
Innocenti, Gianfranco; (US) ; Grasso, Valentina;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE, MION, ZINN, MACPEAK & SEAS, PLLC
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20037-3202
US
|
Assignee: |
C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER
AZIONI
|
Family ID: |
27639047 |
Appl. No.: |
10/429738 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/141 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 3/04 20130101; B60H
1/247 20130101; B60H 1/248 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/141 |
International
Class: |
B60H 001/00; B60H
001/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 7, 2002 |
IT |
T02002A000374 |
Claims
1. A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body, inside which there
are defined a passenger compartment, designed to house one or more
persons and a rear loading compartment, which is able to house at
least one domestic animal, wherein in the vehicle body there are
defined at least one inlet passage for conveyance of air from
outside the motor vehicle to the rear compartment and at least one
outlet passage for expulsion of air from the rear compartment
outside the motor vehicle, the outlet end of the first passage and
the inlet end of the second passage being set in respective
positions such as to induce formation of a flow or current of air,
which circulates in the rear compartment following a substantially
pre-defined or preferential path.
2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein operatively
associated to the inlet passage, and preferably also to the outlet
passage, is a respective deflector member.
3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the deflector
member comprises a respective system of movement.
4. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the deflector
member comprises one or more flaps or plates moved by means of the
system of movement.
5. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein between at least
one deflector member and one end of the respective passage, which
faces inside the rear compartment filtering means are provided.
6. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the deflector
member associated to the inlet passage is shaped for facilitating
intake of the external air towards the inside of the rear
compartment.
7. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the deflector
member associated to the outlet passage is shaped for favouring
suction of the internal air into the rear compartment, so as to
cause it to flow outside.
8. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein an electronic
control system is provided for governing the system of movement of
the deflector member, which operates for the purposes of regulation
of the operating position of the latter.
9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein sensor means are
operatively associated to the control system for the detection of
one or more environmental or physical parameters.
10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the control
system is operative to manage the actuation of the system of
movement of at least one deflector member according to measurements
effected by means of the sensor means.
11. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inlet
passage and the outlet passage are each defined in a respective
upright forming part of the vehicle body.
12. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inlet
passage is defined in a respective upright forming part of the
vehicle body and in that the outlet passage is defined within a
rear access door for access to the rear compartment, in particular
in a bottom central portion of this rear door.
13. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein there are
provided two inlet passages, each defined in a respective rear
upright forming part of the vehicle body.
14. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inlet
passage and outlet passage are each defined in a respective side of
the vehicle body.
15. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein there are
provided two inlet passages, each defined in a respective side of
the vehicle body.
16. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the flap or
flaps of the deflector member are made of shape-memory alloy.
Description
TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising
a vehicle body, inside which there are defined a passenger
compartment, designed to house one or more persons, and a rear
loading compartment, which is able to house at least one domestic
animal. In recent times, there have been introduced solutions aimed
at rendering more convenient and comfortable the transporting of
domestic animals within the rear-loading compartment or boot of a
motor vehicle, which is the area of the latter traditionally
exploited for the purpose.
[0002] The solution most widely used consists in the provision of a
separation grill, aimed at a separating in a secure way the
passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, understood as the area
housing the driver and the passengers, from the rear compartment,
in which the animal is housed.
[0003] Other solutions envisage the use of anti-slip mats and/or
protective mats, designed to be arranged in the boot of the motor
vehicle, for improving the conditions of stability of the animal
and for preventing, at the same time, deterioration of the motor
vehicle itself. Further solutions envisage systems for harnessing
the animal, so as to guarantee the safety of the latter in the case
of collisions, sudden jerks or swerving of the motor vehicle, and
to prevent the animal from possibly disturbing the passengers,
allowing it at the same time a certain degree of comfort and a
certain degree of mobility.
[0004] The present invention is based, however, upon the
recognition of the fact that the well-being of the animal is
linked, above all, to the conditions of the air present in the
compartment which houses it in the motor vehicle and to the fact
that, in the present state of the art, there do not exist specific
solutions in this direction.
[0005] The approach followed for the purpose of enabling change of
air in the area in which the transported animal is located is
typically that of partially opening of one or more rear windows of
the motor vehicle. This practice, in addition to not being
effective for the purposes of increase in comfort of the animal
transported, may lead to a certain degree of disturbance for the
occupants of the vehicle, in addition to a worsening in the
conditions of the air also within the passenger compartment.
[0006] In such a perspective, the purpose of the present invention
is to provide a motor vehicle in which the air conditions in the
compartment equipped for transporting an animal will be improved by
means of a relatively simple, functional, and low-cost system.
[0007] The above and other purposes are achieved, according to the
present invention, by a motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body,
inside which there are defined a passenger compartment, designed to
house one or more persons, and a rear loading compartment, which is
able to house at least one domestic animal, characterized in that
in the vehicle body there are defined at least one inlet passage
for the conveyance of air from outside the motor vehicle to the
rear compartment and at least one outlet passage for the expulsion
of air from the rear compartment to outside the motor vehicle, the
outlet end of the first passage and the inlet end of the second
passage being in respective positions such as to induce the
formation of a flow or current of air which circulates in the rear
compartment following a substantially pre-defined or preferential
path.
[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the
attached claims, which are understood as forming an integral part
of the present description.
[0009] Further purposes, characteristics and advantages of the
present invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing description
with reference to the annexed drawings, which are provided purely
by way of non-limiting example and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view and in partial cross section
of a generic motor vehicle built in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention,
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the rear part of
the motor vehicle of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view in partial cross section of
a generic motor vehicle built in accordance with a second possible
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the rear part of
the motor vehicle of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 represent, with different views, a generic
motor vehicle built in accordance with the present invention.
[0015] In the case provided by way of example, the motor vehicle is
represented by a motor car, designated as a whole by 1, having a
passenger compartment 2, within which are arranged two front seats
3A and a rear seat 3B; behind the seat 3 there is present a
rear-loading compartment or boot 4.
[0016] The body 5 of the motor car 1 is designed in a way that is
as a whole known and comprises for said purpose two rear uprights
6A and 6B for connection of the lower part of the bodywork to the
roof of the motor car itself, designated by 8 in FIG. 2.
[0017] The body 5 likewise comprises side doors (not shown in the
figures) and a rear door 9, provided for enabling access to the
boot 4. The rear door 9, which is equipped with a respective window
designated by 10 in FIG. 2, is hinged in a known way to the body 5,
and in particular to its roof 8.
[0018] The motor car 1 likewise comprises all the elements, which
are known to the art, for its operation, amongst which a system of
ventilation or circulation of the air, comprising one or more
passages which enable conveyance into the passenger compartment 2
of the air taken in from outside.
[0019] According to a first important aspect of the invention, in
the body 5 of the motor car 1 there are defined at least two
further passages, for inducing the formation of a flow of air which
follows a preferential path within the boot 4. In the case provided
by way of example, for this purpose two passages are envisaged,
designated by 11A and 11B, each defined in a respective side
upright 6A and 6B.
[0020] In a position corresponding to the external part of the
passages 11A, 11B respective deflector members are installed,
designated by 12A and 12B, comprising, for example, one or more
mobile flaps or plates, which extend horizontally, as in the case
represented in FIG. 2, or else vertically.
[0021] The deflector members 12A, 12B are equipped for the purpose
with a respective system of movement, designated as a whole by 13
in FIG. 1, comprising actuator means made according to known
technologies (for example, thermo-actuators, electromagnets,
electric stepper motors or continuous electric motors,
piezo-electric actuators or actuators made of shape-memory alloy,
etc.).
[0022] Furthermore, possibly, between each deflector member 12A,
12B and the outlet of the respective passage 11A, 11B towards the
inside of the boot 4, there may be provided filtering means,
designated as a whole by 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The said filtering
means 14 may be represented by a retention membrane, for example
consisting of porous activated carbon with adsorbent action. The
action of said filtering means 14 proves particularly useful in
critical conditions of pollution (tunnels, traffic queues, etc.),
with the possibility of enabling opening of the deflector members
12A, 12B also in the aforesaid conditions.
[0023] The system according to the invention is conceived for
enabling circulation of air in the boot 4. For this purpose, in the
case provided by way of example, the deflector member 12A set on
the upright 6A is provided for enabling entrance of air, whilst the
deflector member 12B set on the upright 6B is provided for enabling
the subsequent outflow of the air. In this embodiment, the
aerodynamic design of the system of air circulation thus envisages
that the deflector member 12A is shaped for facilitating intake of
the external air towards the inside of the boot 4, whilst the
deflector 12B is shaped for favouring suction of the internal air
from inside the boot 4, so as to cause it to flow outside the motor
car 1.
[0024] Possibly, in accordance with a possible embodiment of the
invention, there may likewise be provided sensor means or detecting
means, designated as a whole by 15 in FIG. 1, for detection of one
or more environmental or physical parameters, such as the presence
of an animal in the boot 4, the ambient temperature, the speed of
the flows of circulating air, the presence of smells, the presence
of rain, the presence of pollutants, etc., the said sensor means
being made using technology in itself known.
[0025] Finally, designated as a whole by 16 is a system for
electronic control of the system described, which may also be
readily understood by a person skilled in the art, for acquisition
of data from the aforesaid sensor means 15, if these are provided,
and in any case for managing the actuator means 13, also as a
result of manual commands, for the purposes of regulation of the
operating position of the deflector members 12A and 12B.
[0026] The system of ventilation or circulation of the air in the
boot 4 which equips the motor car 1 according to the invention
functions in the way described in what follows.
[0027] For the purpose of enabling entrance of the air into the
boot 4, the control system 16 operates the actuator means 13, with
the consequent partial opening of the deflector members 12A and
12B. The air can then penetrate inside the motor car 1 by means of
the passage 11A and the deflector member 12A, with inlet flows
designated by FI.
[0028] The inlet flows FI then traverse the filtering means 14, for
elimination of any possible pollutants, pollens and fumes, and
reach the boot 4, in which a domestic animal, such as a dog, is
assumed to be housed. Given the special conformation and
arrangement of the deflector members, the air follows a
preferential path within the boot 4, between the inlet deflector
member 12A and the outlet deflector member 12B, this path being
represented by the flows designated by FT in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
same air then flows off out of the boot 4 by means of the outlet
deflector member 12B, giving rise to one of the outlet flows
designated by FU.
[0029] The inlet flows FI are controlled by the deflector member
12A, the position of which is controlled by the actuator means 13.
The latter are, as has been said, managed by the control system 16
following upon of a simple manual command issued by the driver or
by a passenger of the motor car 1, or else on the basis of the
environmental and dynamic conditions of the motor car 1, detected
by the sensor means 15 (in this perspective, for example, the flow
rate of air entering with the flows FI may be regulated by the
system 16 in relation to the cruising speed of the motor car
1).
[0030] Note that, in the case where the filtering means 14 are not
present, the control system 16 can be programmed for controlling
the closing of the deflector members 12A, 12B according to
detection effected by the sensor means 15. For example, in the case
where there is provided a pollution sensor or external-temperature
sensor and the value of pollution or temperature detected by the
sensor exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the system 16 will
automatically control closing of the deflector members 12A, 12B.
Alternatively, once again in the absence of the filtering means 14,
the closing of the deflector members could be associated to the
shutting-off of the air circulation inside the passenger
compartment 2.
[0031] As may be understood, the ventilation or circulation system
described enables setting-up of an independent microclimate in the
compartment designed for housing the animal, i.e., in the boot 4,
with an evident improvement of the conditions of the air in terms
of temperature, change, distribution and quality.
[0032] The system described thus proves evidently very useful
for:
[0033] creating a separation of the aerodynamic flows between the
space 2 of the driver and of the passengers and the space 4 where
the animal is housed;
[0034] improving the conditions of respiration and of general
well-being of the animal;
[0035] aiding the elimination of unpleasant smells from the
compartment 4 for housing the animal and improving as a whole the
quality of the air inside the passenger compartment 2.
[0036] FIGS. 3 and 4 represent a possible alternative embodiment of
the invention. Note that in FIGS. 3 and 4 the same reference
numbers are used as in FIGS. 1 and 2 for designating elements that
are technically equivalent to the ones already indicated.
[0037] In the variant proposed, both of the passages 11A, 11B and
the respective deflector members 12A and 12B are shaped and
provided for favouring the entrance of air into the boot 4, by
means of respective inlet flows FI. The outflow of the air from the
boot 4 is, instead, enabled by means of a further deflector member,
designated by 12C, substantially of the same type as the ones
designated by 12A and 12B, installed in a respective passage 11C
defined in the rear access door 9.
[0038] Also in this case, the deflector member 12C may comprise a
series of mobile horizontal plates, as in the case represented, or
mobile vertical plates, with a respective system of movement 13,
managed by the control system 16.
[0039] In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,
the inlet flows FI form, within the boot 4, a current of air FT
having a preferential path, directed towards the bottom part of the
rear access door 9, in the outlet deflector member 12C, through
which the air then flows away outside the motor car 1.
[0040] This arrangement thus enables outflow of the air from the
side portions towards the rear side of the boot 4, not only for the
purpose of supplying fresh and clean air to the animal, but also to
enable the collection and subsequent elimination of any hairs and
dust in an area that is readily accessible for the purposes of
cleaning.
[0041] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the
invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary
with respect to what is described and illustrated herein purely by
way of example.
[0042] For instance, it is clear that the passages 11A and/or 11B
for entrance into and/or outlet of the air from the rear
compartment 4 could be made also in parts of the body or bodywork
different from the rear uprights 6A, 6B, for instance on the sides
of the motor vehicle 1.
[0043] The deflector members 12A, 12B and 12C, instead of
comprising respective actuators of movement, could comprise active
plates made of shape-memory alloy. As is known, shape-memory
materials exploit the properties of some alloys of nickel and
titanium, which undergo a contraction following upon heating up to
a transition temperature.
[0044] Deflector members built in this way, in addition to
requiring a very low power of supply and being extremely reliable
and efficient, enable containment of the overall dimensions and
weights of the system, so simplifying its constructional layout.
The use of shape-memory materials for the fabrication of deflector
members proves moreover of particular interest in the case of brief
stops where the motor car 1 is standing still in the sun, with the
engine turned off or when the user has forgotten to activate the
control system for controlling the climate of the rear compartment
4. In this situation, the deflector members are in any case able to
operate without the need for electric power, in so far as the
partial opening thereof would be caused directly by the variation
of the ambient temperature.
* * * * *